Howdy! My name is Patrick McGinty and I am a junior pre-med biology & kinesiology double major from San Antonio, Texas. I am a member of the Corps of Cadets and Company K-1 but more importantly I am a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2015!

 

I took a different path than most people to get to where I am today. I grew up in a longhorn family, raised by parents who would talk about no other school than t.u. It was because of this lack of exposure to A&M that I always considered it a back up plan as a senior in high school. I actually had to be convinced by my cousin to apply to A&M the day the applications were due. It wasn’t until I had experienced my first “Howdy!” from a stranger, been welcomed into the Aggie family at Fish Camp, stood with the 12th Man at my first Fightin’ Texas Aggie football game, and honored the fallen at Silver Taps, that I realized there isn’t a better university in the world. Texas A&M has given me so much over the past two and a half years, but the thing that sticks out the most is the way that the Aggie family can rally together in good times and bad.

 

Over summer between my freshman and sophomore year one of my best friends who was a fellow aggie passed away. Upon finding out about this tragedy, there were people who immediately dropped everything, from work to vacation, to go back to his hometown and be with his family. The Aggie family was there to comfort them in their time of need. I remember being at his funeral and seeing thousands of Aggies celebrating his life, and it dawned on me that, that was what the Aggie spirit was all about. At silver taps countless Aggies gathered in silence celebrating his life, some knew him but most didn’t and the way everyone stood in silence honoring his life left me speechless.

 

In addition to the Corps there have been two other organizations that have made a huge impact on my life over my first year and a half at A&M. As a part of MSC Freshmen in Service and Hosting, I have been given opportunities to play sports with underprivileged kids, volunteer with the elderly at nursing homes, and help the staff at Camp Allen prepare for the summer camp kids. As a Fish Camp counselor I was given a chance to impact incoming freshmen that were in the same situation that I was in when I first arrived in College Station. It was through these experiences that I was able to connect with Aggieland on a personal level and develop a passion for serving others.

 

Moments like these are what have truly inspired my undying love for Texas A&M. I’m already very lucky to be attending the greatest university in the world, and I have been blessed to serve Texas A&M as a Junior Yell Leader. From Aggie Moms Clubs, to fish camps, to new student conferences, to football games, and everything in between it has been a privilege and honor to serve A&M. If I am selected as a senior yell leader, I will take this passion I have for Aggieland and continue to serve selflessly with an earnest heart.